Sharks Make NHL History in Drafting 7-foot-1 Defenseman
Summary
The San Jose Sharks had a strong 2026 NHL draft, selecting several top players including a very tall defenseman named Alexander Karmanov. Karmanov, who is 7-foot-1 and from Moldova, became the tallest player ever drafted in NHL history.Key Facts
- The Sharks picked Ivar Stenberg, a high-scoring Swedish winger, second overall in the draft.
- They also picked defensemen Keaton Verhoeff (9th overall) and Ryan Lin (21st overall).
- In the 7th round (201st pick), the Sharks selected Alexander Karmanov, who is 7-foot-1 tall.
- Karmanov is now the tallest player ever drafted, surpassing Zdeno Chara, who was 6-foot-9.
- Karmanov is the first player born in Moldova to be drafted into the NHL.
- Karmanov weighs 280 pounds, which raises questions about how his body will handle the physical NHL games.
- Experts see him as a unique player because of his unusual size and defensive potential.
- Defenseman role often requires defending the zone and preventing goals, areas where Karmanov’s size can be an advantage.
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